Description

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to feeding apparatus for feeding objects to a receiving area, especially irregularly shaped objects, such as logs and/or split logs to a receiving area.

According to the present invention there is provided apparatus for feeding objects to a receiving area, the apparatus comprising a hopper for the objects, the hopper having a base, inclined upwardly from a lower upstream end to an upper downstream end and terminating at the upper downstream end in a discharge outlet, a conveyor extending along the base and configured for urging the objects along the base to the discharge outlet, a drive for driving the conveyor at a controlled rate for controlling the rate at which the objects are discharged through the discharge outlet, and a delivery chute inclining downwardly from an upper upstream end communicating with the discharge outlet of the hopper, to a lower downstream end for delivering the objects to the receiving area at the controlled rate.

The conveyor may extend the length of the base.

The objects in question may be logs and/or split logs.

The conveyor may comprise a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart conveying slats extending substantially transversely relative to the chute, the slats being operably connected to the drive for urging the slats along the base of the hopper in a direction from the lower upstream end to the upper downstream end of the base.

The slats may extend substantially the width of the base. The slats may be slidable along the base.

The depth of each slat extending above the base may be less than or equal to 20mm.

The depth of each slat extending above the base may be less than or equal to 10mm.

The depth of each slat extending above the base may be less than or equal to 8mm.

The slats may be equally spaced apart longitudinally along the base.

The slats may be carried upon at least one endless transmission element.

The slats may be carried upon a pair of spaced apart transmission elements.

The transmission elements may be located adjacent respective opposite sides of the base.

The transmission element(s) may comprise an endless chain.

The slats may be secured to the top of each transmission element.

The slats may be shaped to accommodate the transmission element such that the slats abut the base and the transmission elements are raised off the base.

The lower upstream end of the base may coincide with a lowest most part of the hopper.

The hopper may comprise an upstream end wall, and a pair of spaced apart side walls extending in a downstream direction from the upstream end wall.

The side walls may converge downwardly to the base.

The side walls of the hopper may incline inwardly downwardly to the base at an angle to the horizontal in the range of 40° to 80°.

The side walls of the hopper may incline inwardly downwardly to the base at an angle to the horizontal in the range of 50° to 70°.

The side walls of the hopper may incline inwardly downwardly to the base at an angle to the horizontal of approximately 60°.

The end wall may incline downwardly and inwardly towards the base.

The upstream end wall of the hopper may incline inwardly downwardly to the base at an angle to the horizontal in the range of 45° to 90°.

The upstream end wall of the hopper may incline inwardly downwardly to the base at an angle to the horizontal in the range of 50° to 70°.

The upstream end wall of the hopper may incline inwardly downwardly to the base at an angle to the horizontal of 60°.

The side walls may define with the base the discharge outlet adjacent the upper downstream end of the base.

An interface may be provided for inputting a control signal for controlling the drive.

The interface may be located towards the downstream end of the delivery chute.

The interface may be configured for receiving an input signal for selecting the operational speed of the drive for in turn selecting the delivery rate of the objects from the hopper through the discharge outlet.

The interface may be configured for inputting a signal to operate the drive in an active operational mode, and a deactivated non-operation mode. A pair of guide shields may be provided on opposite sides of the delivery chute for guiding the objects along the delivery chute.

The guide shields may be located towards the upper upstream end of the delivery chute.

The guide shields may converge in a generally downward direction towards the delivery chute.

Downstream ends of the respective guide shields may converge in a direction in a generally inwardly downstream direction.

The delivery chute may comprise a plurality of transversely spaced apart elongated longitudinally extending chute bars extending from the upper upstream end of the delivery chute to the lower downstream end thereof.

The chute bars may be configured for slidably accommodating the objects from the upstream end of the delivery chute to the downstream end thereof.

The chute bars may terminate at the downstream end of the delivery chute in a delivery plate for delivering the objects to the receiving area.

The chute bars may be splayed outwardly from the upper upstream end to the lower downstream end.

The respective outermost chute bars may range from a distance of approximately 400mm at the upper upstream end of the chute to a distance of approximately 900mm at the lower downstream end.

There may be provided gaps between the chute bars. These may allow debris and detritus that may be attached to the objects to fall through the delivery chute and not to be delivered to the receiving area.

A damper may be provided on the delivery chute between the upstream and downstream ends thereof. The damper may damp the movement of the objects passing down the chute.

The damper may comprise at least one damping member extending downwardly from an upper mounting element towards the chute.

There may be provided a plurality of damping members extending from the upper mounting element.

The at least one damping member may be flexible.

The damping member (s) may comprise an elongate main body with a narrower tip which may extend partially through the gap between respective chute bars.

The damping member(s) may be formed from a plastics material.

The one or more damping members may be mounted upon an L-shaped mounting bar which in turn may be mounted upon the upper mounting element. The damping member(s) may be mounted from a horizontal member of the L-shaped mounting bar. A vertical member of the L-shaped mounting bar may be provided with a movable weight. Movement of the weight may be allowed by a plurality of bores and a pin to enable its positioning along the vertical member. The pin may be a bolt and nut arrangement.

The downstream end of the delivery chute may comprise a receiving platform for receiving and presenting the objects delivered thereto.

At least one bag support may be provided for supporting a bag depending downwardly therefrom with an open mouth of the bag facing upwardly for receiving the objects. The bag support may be mounted adjacent the receiving platform. This may be provided to enable manual transfer of the objects from the receiving platform to a bag or bags supported on the bag support(s).

There may be provided at least two bag supports. The bag support(s) may be mounted on a plurality of horizontally spaced mounts. This may allow the bag support(s) to be spaced at an optimal distance apart adjacent the receiving platform.

The interface may be configured for receiving signals inputted manually.

The base of the hopper may incline upwardly from the lower upstream end to the upper downstream end at an angle to the horizontal in the range 20° to 60°.

The base of the hopper may incline upwardly from the lower upstream end to the upper downstream end at an angle to the horizontal in the range 35° to 50°.

The base of the hopper may incline upwardly from the lower upstream end to the upper downstream end at an angle of approximately 40°.

The drive may comprise a hydraulically powered drive motor.

The drive motor may be configured to drive the conveyor through a gearbox.

The gearbox may provide a drive ratio.

The drive ratio may be in the range of 5:1 to 2:1.

The drive ratio may 3.8:1.

The drive may comprise a hydraulic power pack module.

The hydraulic power pack module may comprise a pump, a motor, a hydraulic fluid tank and a relief valve.

Brief Description of the Drawings Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the following drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a first embodiment feeding apparatus according to the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional side elevational view of the feeding apparatus of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a partly cut away front elevational view of the feeding apparatus of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a rear perspective view of the feeding apparatus of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a detail of the feeding apparatus of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of another detail of the feeding apparatus of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a further detail of the feeding apparatus of Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is a is a perspective view of another detail of the feeding apparatus of Fig. 1;

Fig. 9 is a front elevational view of a part of the feeding apparatus of Fig. 1;

Fig. 10 is a top plan view of the part of the Fig. 9 of the feeding apparatus of Fig. 1;

Fig. 11 is a side elevational view of another portion of the feeding apparatus of Fig. 1;

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of a second embodiment feeding apparatus according to the present invention;

Fig. 13 is a perspective detail view of a chute assembly of the apparatus of Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 is a perspective detail view of a bag holding assembly of the apparatus of Fig. 12;

Fig. 15 is a perspective detail view of the receiving area of the apparatus of Fig.

12.

Referring to the drawings and initially to Fig. 1 there is depicted a feeding apparatus according to the present invention indicated generally by the reference numeral 1 for feeding objects, in this embodiment of the invention irregular shaped objects, such as, for example, logs and/or split logs 3 to a receiving area for facilitating bagging of the logs manually. The feeding apparatus 1 comprises a hopper 2 to which the logs 3 are temporarily stored, and from which the logs 3 are delivered at a controlled rate to a delivery chute 4 and in turn to a receiving platform 5 from which the logs 3 are manually transferred into bags 6 which are supported on a bag support which comprises bag support elements 8, which are secured to the receiving platform 5.

The hopper 2 comprises a base 10 which inclines upwardly from a lower upstream end 12 to an upper downstream end 14. An upstream end wall 15 inclines downwardly inwardly to the to the lower upstream end 12 of the base 10, and a pair of side walls 17 extend from the upstream end wall 15 in a generally downstream direction to the upper downstream end 14 of the base 10. The sidewalls 17 converge downwardly to the base 10, and define with the base 10 at the upper downstream end 14 thereof a discharge outlet 18 from the hopper 2. In this embodiment, of the invention the side walls 17 incline at an angle to the horizontal of approximately 60°.

A conveyor, in this embodiment of the invention a slatted chain conveyor 20 is located on the base 10 for conveying logs 3 in the hopper 2 along the base 10 and in turn through the discharge outlet 18. The slatted chain conveyor 20 comprises a pair of endless transmission elements, namely, a pair of transversely spaced apart endless chains 22 located adjacent opposite sides 23 of the base 10. The chains 22 are carried around respective upstream sprockets 25 carried on an upstream idler shaft 26, and respective downstream sprockets 27 carried on a downstream drive shaft 28. The upstream idler shaft 26 is rotatably carried in bearings 30 carried in mounting members 31 adjacent the lower upstream end 12 of the base 10. The downstream drive shaft 28 is rotatably carried in bearings 33 which in turn are carried in adjustable mountings 34 in the upper downstream end 12 of the hopper 2. The adjustable mountings 34 are provided for tensioning the chains 22.

A plurality of conveying slats 35 equi-spaced apart longitudinally along the base 10 are secured to the chains 22 and extend transversely across the base 10 of the hopper 2.

The conveying slats 35 are shaped at their respective opposite ends 37 in order to accommodate the chains 22 between the shaped ends 37 and the base 10, so that the portion 38 of the conveying slats 35 between the shaped ends 37 bears on and is slidable along the base 10. Slots 39 in the shapes portion 37 of each conveying slat 35 are provided for securing the conveying slats 35 to the corresponding endless chains 22.

The depth d (see Fig. 9) of the slats 35 in this embodiment of the invention are 8mm. It has been found that by maintaining the portion 38 of the conveying slats 35 in slidable relationship with the base 10 and by maintaining the portion 38 between the shaped ends 37 of the conveying slats 35 to be of depth below 20mm, and preferably below 10mm, and ideally, by maintaining the depth of the portion 38 at 8mm, a single layer of logs 3 adjacent the base 10 of the hopper 2 can be readily drawn from the supply in the hopper 2 so that as the slatted chain conveyor 20 is urging the logs towards the discharge outlet 18 of the hopper 2 only a single layer of logs on the base 10 is being conveyed by the slatted chain conveyor 20. This provides a particularly important advantage, in that the rate at which the logs 3 are being discharged through the discharge outlet 18 can be relatively accurately controlled. In fact, the rate of discharge of the logs 3 through the discharge outlet 18 may be substantially constant for a given speed of the slatted chain conveyor 20. Additional logs beyond this single layer will tend to fall back into the hopper 2, mainly by tumbling down the conveyor or the side walls of the hopper 2. This may roughen or splinter their surfaces.

A drive 39, in this embodiment, a hydraulically powered drive motor 40 is mounted on the hopper 2 adjacent the upper downstream end 14 of the base 10, and drives the downstream drive shaft 28 through a gearbox 42. The hydraulic motor 40 is a variable speed motor, the speed of which is controlled by controlling the flow rate of hydraulic oil to the motor 40. The operation and controlling of the motor 40 is described below. The gearbox 42 may have a may be in the range of 5:1 to 2:1, and in the present embodiment the drive ratio is 3.8:1.

The delivery chute 4 extends from an upper upstream end 45 to a lower downstream end 46, and is secured to the hopper 2 adjacent the upper downstream end 14 of the base 10, so that the upper upstream end 45 of the delivery chute 4 communicates with the discharge outlet 18 of the hopper 2 for receiving the logs 3 therefrom. A pair of transversely spaced apart mounting brackets 47 located on the hopper 2 adjacent respective opposite sides of the base 10 are provided with a plurality of mounting bores 48 for facilitating adjustable mounting of the upper upstream end 45 of the delivery chute 4 to the hopper 2 adjacent the upper downstream end of the delivery chute 4 to the hopper 2 adjacent the upper downstream end 14 of the base 10.

The delivery chute 4 comprises a pair of elongate longitudinally extending transversely spaced apart side plate members 50, which extend from the upper upstream end 45 of the delivery chute 4 to the lower downstream end 46 thereof, and which define the width of the delivery chute 4. A plurality of transversely equi-spaced apart elongate longitudinally extending chute bars 52 are located between the side plate members 50 and extend from the upper upstream end 45 of the delivery chute 4 to the lower downstream end 46 thereof, and define with the side plate members 50 the delivery chute 4. The chute bars 52 are of steel material with relatively smooth upper conveying surfaces 53 for slidably accommodating the logs 3 along the delivery chute 4 from the upper upstream end 45 to the lower downstream end 46 thereof. The chute bars 52 are supported on an upper transversely extending support bar 55 extending between the side plate members 50 adjacent the upper upstream end 45 of the delivery chute 4 and a lower transversely extending lower support bar (not shown) extending between the side plate members 50 adjacent the lower downstream end 46 of the delivery chute 4.

A delivery plate 57 is located adjacent the lower downstream end 46 of the delivery chute 4 and extends between the side plate members 50. Slots 58 extend into the delivery plate 57 from an upstream end 59 of the delivery plate 57 in a generally downstream direction for accommodating the chute bars 52 therethrough. The delivery plate 57 is configured for delivery logs 3 from the delivery chute 4 to the platform 5. A pair of transversely spaced apart guide shields 60 are located on opposite sides of the conveying chute 4 towards the upper upstream end 45 thereof and are secured to the respective side plate members 50. The guide shields 60 converge downwardly to the conveying chute 4 for guiding logs as they are discharged through the discharge outlet 18 of the hopper 2 onto the conveying chute 4. Additionally, downstream portions of the 62 of the guide shields 60 are configured to converge in a generally inwardly downstream direction for further assisting in guiding and directing the logs from the discharge outlet 18 of the hopper 2 onto the delivery chute 4.

A damper for damping and slowing down the downward movement of the logs 3 along the delivery chute 4 as they approach the lower downstream end 46 thereof comprises a damping element 64 which is located intermediate the upper upstream end 45 and the lower downstream end 46 of the delivery chute 4 towards the lower downstream end 46 thereof. The damping element 64 comprises an upper cross-member 65 supported on a pair of transversely spaced apart upstanding support members 66 extending upwardly from the side plate members 50. A plurality of flexible damping members 67 depending downwardly from the cross-member 65 extend to and between the chute bars 52 for damping and slowing the downward movement of the logs 3. In this embodiment of the invention the flexible damping members 67 are of a plastics material which although not rigid, nonetheless do not yield until struck by the logs when approaching the damping element 64 at a relatively fast speed. In this embodiment of the invention the damping members 67 are of a fabric reinforced rubber or rubber like material of thickness of approximately 10mm. The lower ends 68 of the flexible damping members 67 are slightly narrower than the remainder of the flexible damping members 67, so that the lower ends extend between the chute bars 52. This further enhances the damping effect of the flexible damping members 67 on the logs 3.

The hopper 2 and the delivery chute 4 are supported on a main framework 70, which comprises a pair of transversely spaced apart main upstanding members 72 and cross members 74 and 75 extending from the main upstanding members 72 to the hopper 2 and the delivery chute 4 respectively. The cross-members 75 extending from the main upstanding members 72 to the delivery chute 4 are adjustable in length for accommodating adjustment of the delivery chute 4 relative to the hopper 2. A pair of ground-engaging feet 76 extending downwardly from a cross-member 77 supporting the hopper 2 adjacent the lower upstream end of the base 10 support the hopper 2 on the ground.

In this embodiment of the invention the base 10 of the hopper 2 extends at an angle to the horizontal approximately 40°, although, it is envisaged that the base 10 may extend at an angle to the horizontal in the range of 20° to 60°. The delivery chute 4 extends at an angle to the horizontal at an angle of approximately 45°, and in this embodiment of the invention the angle at which the delivery chute 4 extends relative to the horizontal is adjustable between the angles 30° and 80°.

It has been found that by constructing the hopper 2 with side walls 17 inclining inwardly downwardly to the base 10 at an angle to the horizontal of approximately 60°, and by providing the upstream end wall 15 inclining inwardly downwardly to the base 10 at an angle to the horizontal, the load of the logs in the hopper 2 is spread over the side walls 17 and the upstream end wall 15, as well as over the base 10 of the hopper 2. This appreciably reduces the load bearing on the lowestmost layer of logs on the base 10 thereby reducing the force required by the conveying chain 20 to urge the lowestmost layer of the logs on the base 10 along the base 10. This in turn results in greater degree of control of the logs being urged by the conveying chain 20 upwardly along the base 10 of the hopper 2 and, accordingly, permits controlled delivery of the logs 3 from the hopper 2 through the discharge outlet 18 onto the delivery chute 4. Indeed, it has been found that this advantage can be achieved by providing the side walls inclining inwardly downwardly to the base 10 at the angle to the horizontal in the range of 40° and 80° and preferably in the range of 50° and 70° and by providing the upstream end wall 15 inclining inwardly downwardly to the base 10 at the angle to the horizontal in the range of 45° and 90° and, preferably, in the range of 50° and 70°.

Returning now to the hydraulic drive motor 40, the drive motor 40 is powered through a hydraulic power pack 79, which in turn is powered by an electric motor 78. An input interface 80 is located in a panel 82 which is mounted to one side of the delivery chute 4 towards the lower downstream end 46 thereof, and at a working height to a person standing adjacent the receiving platform 5. The interface 80 comprises a manual button operated emergency stop switch 83, and a rotary control switch 85 for controlling the flow of hydraulic fluid through the hydraulic power pack 79 to the hydraulic motor 40 for in turn controlling the operational speed of the hydraulic motor 40. The rotary control switch 85 facilitates selectively setting the speed of the hydraulic motor 40, for in turn selectively setting the rate at which the logs 3 are discharged through the discharge outlet 18 from the hopper 2. Thus, a person standing at the receiving platform 5 can readily easily select the rate at which the logs 3 are discharged through the discharge outlet 18 of the hopper 2 by appropriately operating the rotary control switch 85.

Returning now to receiving platform 5, this is located adjacent the downstream end 46 of the delivery chute 4, and is configured to receive the logs from the delivery chute 4. The receiving platform 5 is supported on ground engaging legs (not shown) at a suitable working height above the ground relative to a person standing adjacent thereto. In this embodiment of the invention the receiving platform 5 is supported at a height of between 900mm to 1200mm above the ground. The pair of bag support elements 8 are mounted on and extend from an end edge 89 of the receiving platform 5 for supporting a corresponding pair of bags 6. Bag support elements 8 will be well known to those skilled in the art and a detailed description should not be required. However, each bag support element comprises bag engaging hooks 90 for engaging and supporting the corresponding one of the bags 6 depending downwardly therefrom and with an open mouth 91 of the bag 6 facing upwardly. Each bag support element 8 comprises four pairs of bag engaging hooks 90, two of the four pairs of hooks 90 being mounted on mounting brackets 93 of the corresponding bag support element 8, and the other two pairs of the hooks 90 being carried on a corresponding slidable carrier 94 and facing in the opposite direction to the hooks 90 on mounting brackets 93 for facilitating stretching the open mouth 91 of a bag 6 when the bag 6 is engaged on four of the bag engaging hooks 90 of the corresponding bag support element 8. The bag support elements 8 are located relative to the receiving platform 5 so that a person standing on the ground adjacent both the platform 5 and a corresponding one of the bag support elements 8 can readily manually transfer logs 3 on the receiving platform 5 into a bag 6 supported on the adjacent corresponding bag support element 8.

In use, with the hopper 2 charged with logs 9, and the hydraulic power pack 79 powered up, and with one or two bags 6 secured to one or both of the bag support elements 8, the feeding apparatus 1 is ready for use. An operator standing adjacent the receiving platform 5 operates the rotary control switch 85 to set the speed of the hydraulic motor 4 at a desired speed for discharging the logs 3 from the hopper 2 through the discharge outlet onto the delivery chute 4. As the logs 3 are received on the delivery platform 5 the operator manually transfers them to the bags 6. On the bag 6 being filled it may be removed from the bag support element and a fresh bag placed in its stead for subsequent filling.

When a second operator is available, the second operator stands at the opposite side of the platform 5 adjacent the corresponding bag support element 8 and manually transfer logs from the receiving platform 5 to a bag 6 supported in the adjacent bag support element. When two operators are available, the speed of the hydraulic drive 40 may be increased, for in turn increasing the rate at which the logs 3 are discharged from the hopper 2 through the discharge outlet 18 by appropriately operating the rotary control switch 85.

In addition, it has been found that logs and split logs 3 of the type intended to be used in the feeding apparatus 1 tend to be covered in detritus, such as moss, leaves and other such vegetation, and may also tend to splinter, especially with what may be relatively rough handling of the logs prior to loading into the hopper 2.

By having the gaps between successive side plate members 50 and chute bars 52 on the chute 4, this allows such detritus to fall through the chute 4 into the are beneath the chute 4. This may be collected for disposal or further use by a container, such as an In Bulk Container or 1BC (not shown). This may be used as kindling, mulch, or the like and may be itself bagged and sold.

Moreover, the close proximity of the portion 38 of the conveying slats 35 in slidable relationship with the base 10, this tends to convey the detritus with the logs 3 towards the chute 4 via the discharge outlet 18. By moving the detritus away from the chains 22 it mitigates the possibility of them being fouled. A second embodiment feeding apparatus 101 is shown in Figs 12 to 15. This is similar in construction and detail, and similarly integers as to those described in relation to the first embodiment are prefixed with a 1 or 10 as the circumstances require i.e. receiving area 5 becomes receiving area 105 and base 10 becomes base 110. Where these integers have identical or near-identical function in the second embodiment as they have in the first embodiment, they will not be described further.

The second embodiment feeding apparatus 101 comprises a hopper 102 to which the logs (not shown) are temporarily stored, and from which the logs (not shown) are delivered at a controlled rate to a delivery chute 104 and in turn to a receiving platform 105 from which the logs (not shown) are manually transferred into bags (not shown) which are supported on a bag support which comprises bag support elements 108, which are secured to the receiving platform 105.

Successive side plate members 150 and chute bars 152 are somewhat splayed outwardly from the upper upstream end 145 of the delivery chute 104 to the lower downstream end 146 thereof. The width between the side plate members 150 at the upper upstream end 145 is 400mm adjacent the discharge outlet 118 to a width of 900mm adjacent the receiving platform 105 at lower downstream end 146 of the chute.

This splaying or widening allows smaller particles of detritus to fall through the chute generally at the upper upstream end 145 of the delivery chute 104 whereas larger particles of detritus will tend to do so at the lower downstream end 146 adjacent the receiving platform 105.

Furthermore, the damper element has been altered and in the second embodiment comprises a single hinged damping plate 167 instead of the flexible damping members 67. The hinged damping plate is mounted on an L-shaped bracket 169 which comprises a vertical member 169a and a horizontal member 169b. The vertical member 169a of the L-shaped mounting bar is provided with a movable weight 170. Selective movement and placement of the weight 180 along the vertical member 169a is allowed by a plurality of bores 181 and a pin 184 to enable its positioning along the vertical member. The pin is a simple bolt and nut arrangement 184. A secondary collection chute 173 is also provided on the second embodiment apparatus. The secondary collection chute 173 attaches to the side of the primary chute 104 but is located mainly beneath the primary chute 104. Its purpose is to collect the detritus falling through the primary chute 104 and enable its easier collection. The secondary collection chute 104 comprises an initial guide shield portion 160 (much as the previously described feature 60) which extends from the side to which the primary and secondary chutes are mechanically attached by fasteners 173a. A secondary chute section 173b joins to and extends from the initial guide shield portion 160. Two secondary guide members 173c are located on opposite sides of the secondary chute section 174. These may be formed by bending the outermost portions of a sheet of material made to form the secondary chute section 173b. They help entrain the detritus captured on the secondary collection chute 173 and help deliver it across an exit portion 173c of the chute 173.

A secondary chute bracket 179a is attached to the secondary chute section 173b spanning across the secondary guide members 173c. A secondary chute stanchion 179b connects the bracket 179a to the side plate member 150. The stanchion 179b and bracket 179a support the chute section 173b.

Furthermore, the receiving platform 105 has been modified. The pair of bag support elements 108 are mounted on and extend from an end edge 189 of the receiving platform 105 for supporting a corresponding pair of bags as before; however, there is now provided a plurality of bag support attachment bores 189a. These are provided at set distances apart corresponding with the width of the bag support elements 108 and allow the exact position of each bag support 108 to be adjusted depending on the needs of the operator(s).

A secondary guide plate 197 is attached between the end edge 189 and the bag support 108. This is fixed to the end edge 189 and provides a slight lip 197a to protect the operators from the logs as they emerge from the damper.

A plurality of guide plate slots 197b are formed on the secondary guide plate 197 which correspond with the bag support attachment bores 189a. These slots 197b are more elongate than the bores 189a and assist in locating the bag support elements 108 to a specific pair of bores 189a. Simple mechanical fasteners, such as a bolt and nut arrangement (not shown) are used to affix the support elements to the specific bore/slot.

Two platform hinge brackets 199 are provided within the interior of the platform 105. These mount the platform 105 to the side plate members 150. A plurality of platform bores 150a are provided on the downstream ends of the side plate members 150. This arrangement allows the platform 105 to be positioned at a plurality of angles to the main apparatus 101, for reasons of operator comfort, storage, stability, etc.

It has also been found that the logs 6 in both embodiments tend to tumble back down both the chain conveyor 20 into hopper 2, but also forward down the delivery chute 4, albeit in a controlled manner. This tumbling effect has been found to both appreciably clean and deburr the surface of the logs 3, resulting both in a packaged log which is appreciably free of contaminants and potentially injurious splinters, and also a useful by product resulting from such removed material being collectable in the form of kindling or mulch or the like.

It will be understood that individual features of each embodiment may be used on the other embodiment, and may be combined to form further embodiments. Modifications and improvements are considered to be within the scope of the present invention and the invention is not limited to the embodiments described herein.